Britannia Ovens (esp Range cookers) your experience

[Rolo Rabbit]

Hi Everyone

 

Harriet has been very quiet for the last few days and we noticed that for at least 2 days she's hardly moved. She's very hunched up and her comb is almost flopped over. I don't think she's eating much - I tried to tempt her earlier but she just moved away. Her poo is pretty well liquid and is a yellowy white colour. Does anyone know what might be wrong with her?

[Olly]

Hard to guess, but if she's been lookinh poorly for 2 days then she is certainly feeling very unwell. A trip to the vet might be your best bet.

 

How old is she? Is she still laying? Is she eating/drinking at all, is her crop empty? Does she feel hot underneath, or is her tummy swollen?

 

It could be any number of things but if she is 2 years old or more, she could well have egg peritonitis, if so she will have fluid on her abdomen and be waddling in a 'John Wayne' sort of way when she walks. I think you'd be best off taking her to the vet for advice.

[Plum]

Sounds like she's getting dehydrated and to be honest if its been a couple of days I'd get help either from breeder or preferably vet.

Could be bowel infection or anything

[Rolo Rabbit]

Sorry - forgot to reply. Harriet died that night. I read up on egg peritonitis and from her symptoms I think that's what it was. In lots of ways I was glad she died when she did as, from what everyone else has said, they don't recover from it and the vet wouldn't have been able to do anything. Poor Harriet.

[Uma]

I'm so sorry that she passed away.

 

I wanted to say though, although it sounds like it may have been too late for your hen, they can recover from peritonitis. I have brought my girls back numerous times from it. Mine have developed sterile peritonitis now and are on hormone injections from it, but it is a treatable condition in some cases. Just in case you encounter it again, which of course, I hope you don't have to.

 

Uma x